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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsClair Obscur: Expedition 33 lost its Game of the Year and Best Debut Game honors from the Indie Game Awards after Sandfall Interactive confirmed generative-AI use during development. The studio said the AI-generated material consisted of temporary placeholder textures that were missed in quality assurance and removed after discovery. The reversal applied to those Indie Game Awards honors—not to every GOTY award the game received.
Which awards were withdrawn?
The Indie Game Awards withdrew Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Game of the Year and Best Debut Game awards in December 2025. The awards body reassigned Game of the Year to Blue Prince and Best Debut Game to Sorry We’re Closed, according to PC Gamer’s December 21, 2025 report.
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $45.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PlayStation 5 | $67.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - PlayStation 5 | $38.88 | Buy on Amazon |
This was a decision by the Indie Game Awards. It did not mean that the game lost every award described as Game of the Year. A December 2025 report said its results at The Game Awards remained intact at that time; that is a dated account, not confirmation of every award record today. IndieGame.com reported that distinction.
Why did the Indie Game Awards disqualify it?
The award organization said Sandfall’s confirmation of generative-AI use made the game ineligible under its stated position. GameSpot reproduced the organization’s statement: “In light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination.” GameSpot reported the withdrawal on December 22, 2025.
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- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
PC Gamer also quoted Mike Towndrow, a member of the Indie Game Awards nomination committee, describing the organization’s approach: “We have a hard stance against gen AI in videogames, it’s something we talk about throughout the year when discussing any potential nominees.” The reported rationale was therefore eligibility under the award body’s position—not a judgment that the game’s overall quality or other awards had changed.
What did Sandfall say about the AI use?
Sandfall’s reported explanation was that AI-created textures had been used temporarily as placeholders, were missed during quality assurance, and were removed after they were identified. GameSpot reported that the studio said the assets were replaced with the intended textures within five days of discovery.
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- Reactive Turn-based Combat - In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Build your party and level up six characters. Craft unique builds for your expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free-aim system.
- “Tomorrow Comes” - With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
- A Hauntingly Beautiful World - Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit a special companion who can access new travel methods and secret areas in the World Map.
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
- European/ UK version
That is the studio’s account, as reported by GameSpot. The cited coverage does not independently establish the intent behind the assets’ use or provide a complete audit of the game’s assets. It supports saying that the award body treated confirmed generative-AI use as disqualifying, while Sandfall characterized the textures as temporary placeholders that remained in the game by mistake.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did the decision affect The Game Awards?
No change to The Game Awards results was reported in the contemporaneous December 2025 coverage. IndieGame.com said those honors remained intact when it published its report. Because that statement describes the status at the time, it should not be read as a fresh check of every award record as of October 2026.
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- IGN and GameSpot "Game of the Year" and "Best RPG" from The Game Awards
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- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
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- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
What the reports establish—and what they do not
- Established: The Indie Game Awards withdrew the game’s Game of the Year and Best Debut Game honors after Sandfall confirmed generative-AI use, as reported by GameSpot and PC Gamer.
- Established: The Indie Game Awards reassigned those honors to Blue Prince and Sorry We’re Closed, respectively, according to PC Gamer.
- Attributed to Sandfall: The AI-generated textures were temporary placeholders missed in QA and later replaced, according to GameSpot.
- Not established by these reports: A complete asset audit, intent to deceive, or the award organization’s current eligibility rules and record after the reported reversal.
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